View full sizeAmerican Airlines and US Airways jets prepare for flight at gate at the Philadelphia International Airport in February.AP Photo/Matt Rourke

DALLAS — American Airlines is adding nonstop flights to more cities from Los Angeles, where it's battling United, Southwest and other airlines for dominance.

American said Wednesday that it will begin service to Eugene, Ore., and Redmond airport, near Bend, Ore., on June 12; and Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Columbus, Ohio; Hartford, Conn., and Bentonville, Ark., on Aug. 27. It began flights between Los Angeles and Raleigh-Durham, N.C., last week.

American is also seeking government approval to fly between Los Angeles and Sao Paulo, Brazil, beginning in November.

Los Angeles is one of American's five key markets in the U.S. It's trying to beef up ahead of its announced merger with US Airways Group Inc. American said the new service would give it 51 U.S. and international destinations from Los Angeles International Airport.

"Our hub in Los Angeles will serve a key role in international routes, particularly as a gateway to Asian destinations," American's chief commercial officer, Virasb Vahidi, said in an interview. American and partner airlines, including Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific, fly to Asia from Los Angeles International.

Vahidi said adding service to cities like Pittsburgh from Los Angeles should also help American attract more business travelers.

The new flights to Oregon will be operated by SkyWest Airlines, and the service to Arkansas will be flown by American's regional subsidiary, American Eagle.

American and Eagle are owned by AMR Corp., which is based in Fort Worth, Texas.